Camp Longhorn {Brenna}

I am so far behind on blogging it isn't even funny. So be aware--- I will be bombarding you with post over the next few days. This summer in some ways has been so good and in other ways the most difficult that we as a family has ever had. I will try my best to blog in some kind of order but over all it will be a little scattered so try and keep up..lol..

 

 

 

On Sunday Brenna left for Camp Long Horn today. Jeff, the kids and I along with Steve and Amy met Brenna and her mom at the bus to say good bye.

We are so excited that she has the opportunity to attend such a amazing camp. I am looking forward to all the kids getting to attend someday. 

 

 



Bren with the two most important man in her life. Her Daddy and Uncle Stevie. 



Brenna and her mom

Me and my girl.

 

 This is one of my favorite pictures.

Total sister love.

 

 

These three are so funny. They had so much fun just playing in the rocks.

 

Oliver and his crazy faces. This boy is his father's son a hundred and ten percent.

 

 

This little girl is such a doll. 

I love watching them play together. 

 



 

 I am so excited that Bren gets to experience this camp. She will be gone for 2 weeks..

but I know she will make memories that will last a life time.

 

 

And here is the difficult part of the summer...

(the watered down version anyways.. at least for now)

 

Several months ago Brenna's mom filed a motion with the court to allow her and her new husband to move over three hours away. Of course we fought it. Thursday the judge ruled on temporary orders that they could move. This would mean that Bren would start school in her new town. Then in October we would have a jury trial to try and keep the move from being permanent.

Until then Brenna would not be able to be in any school activities and her social life would all but be ruined. She would also be on the road 2 to 3 weekends a month at 6 or more hours a weekend. It would also be very difficult for Jeff to make the drive around his work schedule and his health.. Not to mention that Brenna was being torn into a million pieces with this court case. We saw such a difference in her. She was ling, her attitude was awful, she was aggressive to the smaller children and she treated her father just awful. We know this is because she was torn up on the inside. A 13 year old girl should never be put in the position to chose between her mother and father.

 

Jeff decided to go ahead and drop his suit to keep the move from being permanent. He could not stand seeing his little girl hurt any longer. Brenna made it clear she did not want to be here. That she wants to move. He knew that if he ended up winning that she would blame him for the problems it would cause her mother and in her mothers marriage. And then there would be Brenna being up rooted again.

 

This means we go from having Brenna 12-14 days a month to having her when her schedule allows it. Our hearts are so heavy. Both Jeff and I have been in tears for the past few days. Our hearts are broken that Brenna has been basically ripped from our family. I hate that the little ones will not be growing up with her in their lives like they were before. I hate that we will miss out on all the plays, school functions and even days like today. Jeff is always been a very involved father. He has missed very few school and social functions.  He is at all the sporting events. As am I. Of course we will be trying to attend as many functions as we can, but with the distance and the other children it will be so hard. He loves taking and picking her up from school.  Of course that is going to stop.He is going to miss out on so much. We will still be as big of a part of her lives as possible but it will not be the same.

Our family will not be the same.

I just hope that Brenna will know that his Dad backing down was out of love. Not because he does not want to be with her. Jeff adores his children. He is the best father I have ever known.

 

We really feel that we made the right choice for Brenna and for the three little ones. Even for Brenna's mother since her husband would move with out her regardless. This makes me realize how blessed I am to have a husband that always puts me first and would never leave me. He also puts his children's need before his own heart.